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(11) | EP 0 599 541 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Infrared gas analyzer |
| (57) An infrared gas analyzer (15), which is adapted to miniaturization, includes a source
(36) for emitting infrared radiation along an optical path, a detector (50) positioned
in the optical path to detect the radiation and produce a detector output, and a sample
chamber (32) positioned in the optical path between the source and the detector for
containing a sample gas including the component gas to be detected. The source includes
an infrared emitter that is enclosed within a gas-impervious envelope (48) that is
void of reactive gases. The source is a conventional incandescent light source that
is operated at 50% of rated voltage in a continuous, non-chopped manner, with all
of the radiation being directed through the sample chamber. The source is optically
coupled directly with the sample chamber in order to avoid the reflection of infrared
radiation back toward the source. A control is provided for controlling the source
and processing the detector output to a component gas indication. The control processes
the detector output continuously to the component gas indication with a response time
of less than 250 milliseconds. The control also processes the detector output to a
component gas indication independent of any reference signal. |